释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024a•bout /əˈbaʊt/USA pronunciation prep. - concerning;
on the subject of:a novel about the Civil War. Compare on. - connected or associated with:an air of mystery about him.
- near;
close to; approximately:She's about my height. - within the confines of:somewhere about the house.
- so as to be of use to: Keep your wits about you.
- here or there;
in or on:wandered about the neighborhood. - engaged in or occupied with: While you're about it, please get me a soda.
- having as a main concern or central purpose:Fame was what his career was about.
adv. - nearly;
almost: Dinner is about ready. - nearby;
not far off:My papers are somewhere about. - in the opposite direction:She swung the car about.
- here and there:to move furniture about; papers strewn about.
adj. [ be + ~] - moving around;
astir:was up and about at dawn. - in existence;
prevalent:The flu is about. Idioms- Idioms be about to, [~ + verb] be ready or likely to do something:We're about to eat dinner.Compare be going to under go.
- Idioms not about to, not intending or likely to:not about to lend you money.
Idioms what about, what plans or ideas do you have concerning (the person or thing mentioned)?What about the money you hid away? (= What plans do you have for the money you hid away?)Idioms how about, (used to make an offer or suggestion):How about a cup of tea?Idioms It's about time, the time has arrived to do (something):It's about time to leave. Both on and about mean "concerning''; about is used when the information given is of a more general nature and not too technical: a romantic novel about the Civil War. On is used when the information is more particular, as by being scholarly or serious:an important article on the Civil War. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024a•bout (ə bout′),USA pronunciation prep. - of;
concerning; in regard to:instructions about the work; a book about the Civil War. - connected or associated with:There was an air of mystery about him.
- near;
close to:a man about my height; about six o'clock. - in or somewhere near:He is about the house.
- on every side of;
around:the railing about the excavation. - on or near (one's person):They lost all they had about them.
- so as to be of use to:Keep your wits about you.
- on the verge or point of (usually fol. by an infinitive):about to leave.
- here or there;
in or on:to wander about the old castle. - concerned with;
engaged in doing:Tell me what it's about. Bring me the other book while you're about it. adv. - near in time, number, degree, etc.;
approximately:It's about five miles from here. - nearly;
almost:Dinner is about ready. - nearby;
not far off:He is somewhere about. - on every side;
in every direction; around:Look about and see if you can find it. - halfway around;
in the opposite direction:to turn a car about. - from one place to another;
in this place or that:to move furniture about; important papers strewn about. - in rotation or succession;
alternately:Turn about is fair play. - in circumference:a wheel two inches about.
- [Naut.]
- Naval Termsonto a new tack.
- Naval Termsonto a new course.
adj. - moving around;
astir:He was up and about while the rest of us still slept. - in existence;
current; prevalent:Chicken pox is about.
- bef. 900; Middle English aboute(n), Old English abūtan, onbūtan on the outside of (a- a-1 + būtan outside (see but1, but2), equivalent. to b(e) by + ūtan), cognate with Gothic utana, Old Norse, Old Saxon ūtan, Old Frisian ūta, Old High German ūzan(a) outside; see out; compare above, abaft for formation
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: about /əˈbaʊt/ prep - relating to; concerning; on the subject of
- near or close to (in space or time)
- carried on: I haven't any money about me
- on every side of; all the way around
- active in or engaged in
- about to ⇒ on the point of; intending to: she was about to jump
- (with a negative) determined not to: nobody is about to miss it
adv - approximately; near in number, time, degree, etc: about 50 years old
- nearby
- here and there; from place to place; in no particular direction: walk about to keep warm
- all around; on every side
- in or to the opposite direction
- in rotation or revolution: turn and turn about
- used in informal phrases to indicate understatement: I've had just about enough of your insults, it's about time you stopped
- archaic in circumference; around
adj - (predicative) active; astir after sleep: up and about
- (predicative) in existence, current, or in circulation: there aren't many about nowadays
Etymology: Old English abūtan,onbūtan on the outside of, around, from on + būtan outside |